Flexible metal shoe



Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 11,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvement in a flexible metal shoe.

The primary object of the invention is to provide flexible metal shoes especially designed for beach wear so that the foot of the wearer is protected from sand, the soles and heels of the shoes embodying hinge connections to render them flexible and said soles and heels being of varying heights, from minimum to extreme and 10 being of comparatively light weight.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the inven tion is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of 5 parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view, partly broken away and shown in section, of a flexible metal 20 shoe or sandal constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the hinge connection in the instep of the metal shoe between the sole and heel portions;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the adjustable toe and heel straps for the sole and heel portions of the flexible shoe; and

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the flexible metal shoe shown in Figure 1, illustrating the metal frame of the shoe, com- 30 prising sole and heel sections, provided with an outer leather sole and heel and a cushioned and flexible inner sole.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3, there is illustrated a flexible metal shoe or sandal especially designed for wear by women at beaches and other resorts, the shoe comprising metal sole and heel portions I5 and I6 respectively, each of which carries instep portions I 'I and I8 respec- 40 tively, the abutting ends I9 of the instep sections I1 and I8 being maintained in an engaged assembled and hinged connection by means of a flexible leather hinged strap 20 overlying the upper sides of the abutting ends of the instep portions I1 and I8 and secured to said portions by means of screws, rivets or the like 2I as shown in Figure 1.

An upstanding marginal flange 22 rises from the sole and instep portions I and I1 while a 50 depending marginal flange 23 is carried by the sole portion I5 and terminates at its rear ends at the forward end of the instep portion H. A welt strip 24 is secured to the underside of the sole I5 within and engaged with the depending flange 23 and is anchored in position in any manner, preferably by riveting to the sole I5. A

1938, Serial No. 224,374

cushion pad 25 of sponge rubber, cork, felt or other soft material overlies the bottom of the sole I5 within the welt 24 and may be adhesively or otherwise secured in position, an outer bottom leather sole 26 overlying the pad 25 and extending flush with the outer edge of the flange 23 is secured in position by nailing or sewing at the marginal edges thereof, or otherwise being secured to the welt 24.

The metal heel plate I6 and the instep portion I8 carried thereby has an upstanding marginal flange 21 and said heel plate I6 carries a depending marginal wall 28 of heel shape and hollow, a relatively narrow flange 29 projecting inwardly of the wall 28 at a point spaced upwardly of the lower end of the wall to provide a pocket for a leather strip 30 secured to the flange 29 by a rivet 3| or the like and upon which leather strip the lower heel plate 32 of rubber, leather or the like is secured.

The inner sole 33 of the metal shoe or sandal is mounted on the metal toe and heel plates I5 and I6 respectively and carries on its underside cushion elements 34 of sponge rubber, cork or the like to add to the comfort of the wearer.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, crossed toe and heel straps 35 are attached to the upstanding flanges 22 and 21 respectively and one of each of said straps is adjustable as at 36 to vary the length thereof.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, and while there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a shoe construction of the character described, metallic sole and heel sections hingedly connected together, upstanding and depending flanges carried by the marginal edges of said sections and disposed in the same vertical plane, an insole superjacent the upper faces of the sole and heel sections within the upstanding flanges, a welt strip subjacent the bottom faces of the sole and heel sections and laterojacent the depending flanges and treads secured to said welt strips in underlying relation to said depending flanges and being coextensive therewith.

2. A shoe construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein a cushion pad is interposed between the metallic sole section and the tread and lies within the welt strip.

GEORGE KRASNOSKY. 

